The European QS season ended in early April at Caparica au Portugalan event that formalized the list of qualified for the Challenger Series dont Jorgann Couzinet takes 5th place. After a stay in France during which he took the opportunity to rest after a knee injury and to participate in the Maïder Arosteguy in Biarritz, the Reunionese flew to theAustraliawhere the first two stages of the circuit of Challenger the premiere of which is due to begin on May 6 on the Gold Coast. The surfer has a special connection with the Australian waves on which he has already performed in the past. Before he left, we met Jordan To Hossegor to take stock and learn more about its future objectives. He is a surfer more motivated than ever to qualify on the CT who came to us. While the surfer just missed qualifying on the Tour and this on several occasions, this year he is indeed determined to achieve his goal. Jorgann appeared to us serene, determined and more ready than ever to face the competitions to come.
Surf Session – Hey Jorgann! How are you feeling right now, physically and mentally?
Jorgann Couzinet – ” I feel very good ! I spent a month without surfing before the last QS of the season, in Portugal. In Morocco I got a little tear and I’ve been surfing for a while. When I returned to France after my performance there, I thought it was the right time to take a month off and take care of my knee. When I was in Morocco it was annoying because I couldn’t really press it. Mentally I’m fine! I have put things in place on a daily basis, with my coaches and today I am on top, ready to start the year at full speed.
SS – And before that, where did you spend your winter?
JC – I spent my winter in Reunion where I surfed a lot in bigger waves, it was something I wanted to work on. I never really managed to perform in Hawaii and I wanted to progress in the big waves. I trained in this direction to be able to move forward and make a difference.
SS – Where are you in your professional career and what are your goals?
JC – I’m coming out of two not-so-great years, but this year I clearly want to qualify on the CT and I would like to seek my qualification for the Olympic Games. Those are my two main goals, I’m training hard for them and I really think I’ll get there. I feel much better today, better than during these three years when I came close to qualifying, which I feel I am for this year.
SS – After coming so close to qualifying three times, you say you came back stronger. What have you put in place for this?
JC – I worked a lot, I got into it even more seriously than before. I totally stopped going out and partying to focus on what’s most important, which is training hard, eating well, starting a family… Anything that will allow me to be able to perform and that I tended to put a little aside in recent years, especially after the Covid. I feel like it’s my time to go up and I feel like it’s going to be interesting. During these three years, I was always very excited before the competitions but I never really knew how it was going to be. Today I’m aiming for something straight away, I have the feeling of knowing what’s going to happen, I visualize things. It’s hard to explain but I have a feeling it’s the right one mind set.
SS – Can you tell us more about this visualization and your physical preparation?
JC – As far as visualization is concerned, I try to ask myself before competitions, to meditate, to breathe correctly in order to calm my mind to calmly approach the stages. I am serene in my life and it shows on my mind during competitions. In Morocco, I became aware of what was wrong and I work to transform the negative into positive. If I have negative thoughts I do everything to get rid of them. During my month off I went to the CERS every day to follow an intensive but very beneficial physical preparation for my knee. When you get out of there you’re ready to smash everything, they take care of us very well.
SS – Your second place in Morocco seems to confirm your comeback, how did you feel then in Caparica?
JC – When I arrived in Morocco I wondered if I would still be able to get results. Being good in my relationship and feeling encouraged by someone who loves me and whom I love made me feel like I was in the water together. I was doing it for both of us and I feel like I need that strength. I thought I would arrive at Caparica fully recovered but I still had pain in my knee, so I did what I could. I did the job, no more no less. I was delighted to qualify for the Challengers but I’m aiming for the CT, it’s only a small step before the big show!
SS – The Challengers start very soon in Australia, what is your relationship with these waves?
JC – Australia is a place where I realized one of my dreams: to beat my idol, Kelly Slater. So it’s a special place for me, the wave suits me and I can’t wait to be able to show everyone that I’m not here to laugh!
SS – Can you tell us about your quiver?
JC – I ordered about ten boards from DHD, which should arrive on May 1st. I worked a lot with Darren and I feel ready to attack Manly and Snapper with good material.
SS – And concerning the Olympics, what is your relationship to Teahupo’o and what do you think of the fact that they are organized there?
JC – I love Tahiti, I’ve been there twice and I really like Teahupo’o, it’s a magnificent wave. But I think they organize the Olympics there more for the spectators than for the surfers. In my opinion, the Olympics should take place on a right-left wave like Trestles for example, which would be much more suitable. If we had to choose a spot in France, we would have to go to the islands, to the Dom-Tom, to the Caribbean for example. For me surfing is rights and lefts, I understand that they are in Teahupo’o but it’s a wave where you start, you put yourself in the tube and you go out. There are sessions where you can do maneuvers but that’s not what you’re going for there. Everyone should be on an equal footing and the fight could really begin.
SS – You’re productive when it comes to creating video content, vlogging… Is that something close to your heart?
JC – I met quite a few people who were pleasantly surprised that I was so accessible, compared to some who were much less so. I wanted to show that pro surfers weren’t all the same. I approached Mosy to create these vlogs and show people that I was approachable and didn’t take myself too seriously. I started vlogging, I got into the game and it also gives visibility to my sponsors, especially during the Covid. I was happy to see that people were receptive, they love receiving pro tips, knowing what they eat, how they train… I had a lot of questions about all that. I love receiving feed backs, helping people progress like in the vlog I did on small waves. I had a lot of feedback, it’s nice to know that people identify and work on what you have offered them. »
Tags: australia challenger series competition Hossegor interview Jorgann Couzinet QS
2023-04-24 21:29:35
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